Citing advanced years and infirmity, Pope Benedict XVI stunned the Roman Catholic world on Monday by saying that he would resign on Feb. 28 after less than eight years in office, the first pope to do so in six centuries. More here

WANTED:
Someone to replace a former Hitler youth as Vice-President for a large multi-national organization.

MUST HAVE:
1. A strong work ethic
2. Indifference toward a history of violence and oppression
3. Antiquated and bigoted belief system
4. Ability to look the other way at widespread violations of office policy on sexual harassment.
5. Strong communication skills (commands from the head office may be non-existent, and/or vague to the point of fractious disputes over interpretation)

Familiarity with Latin and/or Microsoft Excel is considered a plus.

Gain and loss, status and disgrace,
censure and praise, pleasure and pain:
these conditions among human beings are inconstant,
impermanent, subject to change.

As I have mentioned many times before, the disrespect of other faiths that I have observed from some of the members in this website is disturbing. I am not a Catholic, by the way.

Edit: If I weren't convinced of Buddhism before I cam to this site, I would've never become a Buddhist because I would've said:
"See, (insert real name), they are no different from other religious groups." The heaven, hell and devas wouldn't have helped either.

Last edited by Jay1 on Mon Feb 11, 2013 11:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Jay1 wrote:As I have mentioned many times before, the disrespect of other faiths in this website is disturbing. I am not a Catholic, by the way.

Edit: If I weren't convinced of Buddhism before I cam to this site, I would've never become a Buddhist because I would've said:
"See, (insert real name), they are no different from other religious groups." The heaven, hell and devas wouldn't have helped either.

If you see an offensive post, you can report it to the moderating team. It is the ! above each post.

Just because one person from (insert group) may have written something offensive, it would be inappropriate to generalize all participants of said group as if all are offensive.

In the same way, if we encounter a criminal from (insert group, race) we don't generalize all members of that group or race as criminals.

Jay1 wrote:As I have mentioned many times before, the disrespect of other faiths in this website is disturbing. I am not a Catholic, by the way.

Edit: If I weren't convinced of Buddhism before I cam to this site, I would've never become a Buddhist because I would've said:
"See, (insert real name), they are no different from other religious groups." The heaven, hell and devas wouldn't have helped either.

I apologize if I caused any hurt to Mr. Benedict or anyone who believes that he, a bigot and a liar, is the chosen agent of God on Earth. I'm still waiting on the apology from Mr. Benedict to the gays, lesbians, HIV/AIDS victims, marginalized women, and abused children that he hurt. But hey, I'm not gonna hold my breath.

Doesn't effect me, but as this has not occurred in about 600 years, I wonder what a retired/resigned Pope does? Will he go back to being a Cardinal? An adviser to the newly elected Pope? This might prove to be interesting to see unfold, as it will be played out in the world press.

Now having obtained a precious human body,
I do not have the luxury of remaining on a distracted path.
~ Tibetan Book of the Dead

Jay1 wrote:As I have mentioned many times before, I am not a Catholic, by the way.

Edit: If I weren't convinced of Buddhism before I cam to this site, I would've never become a Buddhist because I would've said:
"See, (insert real name), they are no different from other religious groups." The heaven, hell and devas wouldn't have helped either.

If you see an offensive post, you can report it to the moderating team. It is the ! above each post.

Just because one person from (insert group) may have written something offensive, it would be inappropriate to generalize all participants of said group as if all are offensive.

In the same way, if we encounter a criminal from (insert group, race) we don't generalize all members of that group or race as criminals.

It is not offensive, just unskillfully written. There are different levels of ill conduct and I have no intention to remove or to support the removal of a post that is not malicious. That post was not malicious, I even giggled at the Latin part. I am simply pointing out that this is not a way a Buddhist should respond. I think. I could be wrong but it does say something that I could find atheist's forums with less radical views on theists.

I am sorry for my sweeping statement, though. I'll edit it from "the disrespect of other faiths in this website is disturbing." to "the disrespect of other faiths that I have observed from some of the members in this website is disturbing."

Jay1 wrote:As I have mentioned many times before, the disrespect of other faiths in this website is disturbing. I am not a Catholic, by the way.

Edit: If I weren't convinced of Buddhism before I cam to this site, I would've never become a Buddhist because I would've said:
"See, (insert real name), they are no different from other religious groups." The heaven, hell and devas wouldn't have helped either.

I apologize if I caused any hurt to Mr. Benedict or anyone who believes that he, a bigot and a liar, is the chosen agent of God on Earth. I'm still waiting on the apology from Mr. Benedict to the gays, lesbians, HIV/AIDS victims, marginalized women, and abused children that he hurt. But hey, I'm not gonna hold my breath.

The website doesn't exist to give a comprehensive overview of all events in the Bible. It simply showcases, quite effectively, I might add, the depths of cruelty to which Jehovah sinks to on multiple occasions. No amount of positives on the other side could give pardon.

Gain and loss, status and disgrace,
censure and praise, pleasure and pain:
these conditions among human beings are inconstant,
impermanent, subject to change.

He turns his mind away from those phenomena, and having done so, inclines his mind to the property of deathlessness: 'This is peace, this is exquisite — the resolution of all fabrications; the relinquishment of all acquisitions; the ending of craving; dispassion; cessation; Unbinding.'
(Jhana Sutta - Thanissaro Bhikkhu translation)

"By failing to live by the letter of the texts, while tolerating the irrationality of those who do, religious moderates betray faith and reason equally."

Sam Harris

"And how is it, bhikkhus, that by protecting oneself one protects others? By the pursuit, development, and cultivation of the four establishments of mindfulness. It is in such a way that by protecting oneself one protects others.

"And how is it, bhikkhus, that by protecting others one protects oneself? By patience, harmlessness, goodwill, and sympathy. It is in such a way that by protecting others one protects oneself.

daverupa wrote:"By failing to live by the letter of the texts, while tolerating the irrationality of those who do, religious moderates betray faith and reason equally."

Sam Harris

Once I worked out what that meant , I agreed with it ... mostly, anyway.
Terry Pratchett's Granny Weatherwax said much the same sort of thing (in Carpe Jugulum, IIRC), berating the Omnian [read 'Christian'] missionary for being too milk-and-water when he should have been fire-and-brimstone if his faith were wholehearted.
Aussie philosopher Tamas Pataki said it too, more formally and at greater length, in Against Religion.
Are they all correct? Yes, but we are better off not saying it too loudly or too often because the more relaxed the monotheists become regarding the letter of the texts, the more reasonable they can become in dealing with those who don't share their beliefs.

Getting back to the topic: I think it's a good thing that Benedict has retired. Two reasons: (1) he was always a reactionary and the world needs a more progressive Pope, and (2) his retirement breaks another shackle-of-the-past and the Catholic church needs to get better at that.
But let's be polite to each other - it's a small planet.

LonesomeYogurt wrote:A friend of mine posted on Facebook the Vatican's new Help Wanted ad:

WANTED:
Someone to replace a former Hitler youth as Vice-President for a large multi-national organization.

MUST HAVE:
1. A strong work ethic
2. Indifference toward a history of violence and oppression
3. Antiquated and bigoted belief system
4. Ability to look the other way at widespread violations of office policy on sexual harassment.
5. Strong communication skills (commands from the head office may be non-existent, and/or vague to the point of fractious disputes over interpretation)

Familiarity with Latin and/or Microsoft Excel is considered a plus.

“The truth knocks on the door and you say, "Go away, I'm looking for the truth," and so it goes away. Puzzling.” ― Robert M. Pirsig

The website doesn't exist to give a comprehensive overview of all events in the Bible. It simply showcases, quite effectively, I might add, the depths of cruelty to which Jehovah sinks to on multiple occasions. No amount of positives on the other side could give pardon.

I'm disappointed with how he dealt with (or rather, didn't deal with) the abuse of children that has brought warranted disgrace to the Catholic Church. But I must admit, I find his letter of resignation to be quite moving, and to my mind, it sounds quite humble and sincere. And, there is a softer, more kind expression in his eyes now; as if something has changed in him.

Knowing this body is like a clay jar,
securing this mind like a fort,
attack Mara with the spear of discernment,
then guard what's won without settling there,
without laying claim.
- Dhp 40

I won't be shedding any tears for pope ratzinger.
And, I get my name back.

“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road

Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725